Analytical model and behavioral simulation approach for a (sigma)(delta) fractional-N synthesizer employing a sample-hold element

A previously unknown intrinsic nonlinearity of standard (sigma)(delta) fractional-N synthesizers is identified. A general analytical model for (sigma)(delta) fractional-N phased-locked loops (PLLs) that includes the effect of the nonlinearity is derived and an improvement to the synthesizer topology is discussed. Also, a new methodology for behavioral simulation is presented: the proposed methodology is based on an object-oriented event-driven approach and offers the possibility to perform very fast and accurate simulations, and the theoretical models developed validate the simulation results. We show a GSM example to demonstrate the applicability of the simulation methodology to real study cases.